The podcasting industry has a hidden "underbelly" where the producers and sound engineers—the people actually making the shows—are often undervalued and squeezed out of the conversation. In this eye-opening episode, Tracy Hazard talks with Skye Pillsbury, the investigative force behind The Squeeze newsletter. Skye shares how her deep dives into the "undervalued work of the podcast producer" struck a chord across the industry, revealing how big media machines often take advantage of the very people who build their success. From the messy reality of network acquisitions to the lack of credit for back-end talent, Skye explains why it is time to recognize podcasting’s unsung heroes.

Tracy and Skye get real about why platforms like Spotify and iHeart have faced such a "train wreck" recently. They discuss how "juicing" listener numbers for big celebrity shows—like those from the Obamas or Meghan Markle—creates a house of cards that eventually collapses, leading to massive layoffs for hardworking producers. By chasing short-term advertiser dollars with fake stream counts instead of building loyal, engaged audiences, these networks have damaged the industry's reputation.